By Mark Doig at the University of Greenwich Stadium
AFTER three consecutive away games, Welling United returned to the University of Greenwich Stadium with a 2-1 win against Whitehawk in the Isthmian League Premier Division.
Two wins in those three games, both against fellow relegation-threatened sides, gave Welling hope of escaping the drop leading into the game. Chances were further improved with a gritty victory over the Brighton club. However, it was not the straight-forward win that they might have hoped for at half-time.
The Wings were 1-0 up at the break with their opponents down to ten men but the three points were far from secure.
Whitehawk levelled eleven minutes after the restart and both teams struggled to create chances so it was a big relief for the hosts when they scored again with just over 20 minutes remaining. They saw the game out from there and could have added a further goal in the closing minutes.
Looking for a quick start, the Welling management got just that in the third minute. John Ufuah worked his way ahead of Whitehawk’s Taufee Skandari and the full-back brought him down and was booked. Lewis Gard drove in a deep diagonal free-kick and Lekan Majoyegbe rose to head home his fourth goal of the season.
Midway through the first half, despite already having been cautioned, Skandari again brought down Ufuah from behind and could have had few complaints about being shown a second yellow and a red card.
Majoyegbe headed a Sam Smith corner wide, and then Dean Gunner clipped the crossbar before the first half drew to a close.
Despite being a man short, the visitors equalised six minutes into the second period. Andrew Briggs delivered a corner and Welling struggled to clear it. Eventually it fell to Harry Lodovica and he forced it home from close range.
Smith tried his luck from 30 yards but didn’t trouble Lennon MacLorg before Noah Stewart was brought on in the 62nd minute for his Wings debut on loan from Maidenhead United. Seven minutes later, the young striker opened his account. Troy Howard’s skilful over-head cross caught the Hawks’ defence flat-footed, but not the eager Stewart, and he took full advantage by gleefully firing home.
Destiny Ojo drew a comfortable catch from Welling goalkeeper Mackenzie Foley, his only save of the match, and it was his opposite number, MacLorg, who was busy in the closing minutes. First he made a good save from a low Smith free-kick, before doing even better when keeping out Ade Azeez’s effort when he went through one-on-one.
Despite having won four of their last six, Welling are still a point adrift of safety but they have played a game fewer than the teams above them heading into their last seven matches.
Welling travel to Wingate & Finchley on Saturday for a 3pm kick-off. They can cut the gap to their opponents to three points with a win.
Welling United: Foley; O’Keefe, Majoyegbe, Gunner, Arthur; Thomas (Stewart 62), Smith; Howard, Gard (Reynolds 41), Ufuah; Azeez.
Substitutes not used: Oluwatimilehin, Vukoje, Paternoster.
